Occasionally, once beloved objects fall into oblivion, only to be awakened from their slumber decades later. The motor yacht "Gudrun" is such a rare piece of contemporary history.
The discovery is no coincidence. When Joachim Siebold died in a tragic accident on a work boat, his neighbour Rolf Gersch remembered that an heirloom of the accident victim had been stored in the boat shed on the Rhine next to his jetty in Mainz-Kastell since the 1980s.
After an initial inspection, the idea of saving the completely dusty yacht matures. Gersch quickly reached an agreement with the administrators of the estate, and "Gudrun" passed into his hands at the beginning of 2016.
The boat once belonged to Heinz Siebold, the father of the victim. He was a successful entrepreneur from Hanau. He was attracted to life on the water. It must have been around 1965 when his decision to have a motor yacht built for longer stays on board matured, as long trips to other countries were part of his dream.
In order to travel as comfortably as possible, he has maxed out the 15 metre limit. The plan was realised by Jachtwerf Gebrüder Visch in Warmond, the Netherlands. At the time, the company was known for its solid steel constructions with wooden superstructures.
So well known that in 1971 none other than Rainier of Monaco had his 24 metre long family cruiser "Stalca" built by the shipyard. But first it was the turn of Siebold's construction number 143, which was due to be launched for the first time in 1966.
Visits to the shipyard during construction are meticulously documented on camera. The photos can be found in the family album, which has also been preserved. Even the business still exists, but at some point boatbuilding came to an end. The boatyard became Marina Visch Watersport, which merged with Marina 't Fort in 2008 to form today's Fort Marina in Warmond.
The owner has used the new acquisition intensively. He and his family are mainly travelling in Northern Europe. But it's not just inland waters that attract the hobby skipper; the North Sea and Baltic Sea are also his destinations. This is certainly one reason why the yacht is equipped with two powerful and, at the time, ultra-modern 7.8-litre V6 diesels from GMC, each with 125 kW (170 hp), which bring their power into the water by means of shaft drives and have the necessary reserves to be able to operate them safely at all times, even in coastal waters.
Plaques and trophies bear witness tocountless star and long journeys in the 1960s and 1970s. Almost 3000 kilometres were covered during a trip as far as Sweden in 1972 alone, and such journeys are by no means an isolated case.
The boat has already moored in Malmö, Copenhagen, Helgoland, Norderney and Terschelling. Around 1980, the port engine broke down during a trip. "Gudrun" then moored for the last time in her boat shed on the Rhine.3274 engine hours is still indicated by the antique operating hours counter of the defective engine.
The owner, now also getting on in years, is no longer able to get it repaired and dies a few years later. His son, who inherits the yacht, has little interest in getting it back on the water. So she remains unattended and collects dust.
It was only after Gersch took over the find that things got moving again. His aim was actually to take it on the road soon and enjoy his retirement with his wife Patty with similarly intensive rides as the first owner had done. So the two of them set about cleaning the dust off the old treasure.
Cleaning takes a whole year in total, but it soon becomes clear that it is mainly dirt or slight corrosion on the metal parts. Once the patina has been removed, there are hardly any real defects or irreparable damage to the surfaces.
The upholstery shows little wear, cupboards and hinges are almost as good as new. The teak on the deck is immaculate. Almost like a time capsule, true rarities come to light.
The complete navigation equipment, nautical charts, area manuals and instruments are intact. All the on-board electronics, including the radio, are also in their original condition. Even the headphones are hanging in the navigation locker.
But nobody has heard of the call sign DA 6345, which is stuck on the device, for a long time. When rummaging through the storage compartments, you feel like you're in asmall maritime museum. A fully equipped flag cabinet is impressive. Where else can you find something like this today? A filigree on-board bar with a punch set and aluminium beer cups in the style of the 1960s is fascinating. Carvings adorn the cabins. Even the original hoover - part of the basic equipment - is still there and fully functional.
The bathroom with its rare short bath is also very interesting. A luxury that is rarely found on modern yachts of this size.
All technical components are checked for functionality. The overall condition also turns out to be surprisingly good in this respect. A little patina is visible on some parts, but that's what makes a boat like this so charming.
The crankshaft of the starboard engine can be turned, so the unit should be able to be put back into operation without major repairs. However, the port engine is stuck and is causing Rolf Gersch some concern. Finding spare parts for the GMC Toro-Flow DH478 V6 diesel marinised by Crusader in Europe will not be easy. In the USA, there should be some examples lying dormant in old lorries, construction or agricultural machinery - but you have to find them first.
Now an engine overhaul represents arecognised motor expert like Gersch, but the experienced mechanic has many other treasures in his collection, including some historic racing boats and various vehicles that also need to be maintained and serviced.
After careful consideration, the new owners decide to sell their rare find after all. Buyers are quickly found, but even they have probably overestimated their available free time and energy for this project.
That's why "Gudrun" is now back on sale and is once again waiting for a lover who can restore her to roadworthy condition.
You can read this report in the August 2018 issue of BOOTE. The Booklet is available in the DK-Shop.
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